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2001 Forester front brake issue (sticking off???)

Hi,

I put new brake pads on the front brakes of my wife's Forester and now I have a weird problem. After about a week, the front brakes felt as if they were not working. Taking it out for a test drive, I slammed the brake pedal as hard as I could (emergency stop) and the front brakes kicked in and worked fine. For about a week they seemed OK then suddenly they were gone again.

At this point I disassembled them, and inspected everything (looking for contamination or something obviously wrong). Found nothing wrong and took a long test drive using the brakes a lot. The fronts just didn't seem to be doing much though the brake pedal felt fine (not squishy). Decided to do the emergency stop trick again and the front brakes kicked in again. Now they seem fine but I am assuming in about a week (100 miles or so) they will fade away again.

Has anyone encountered this, or have a clue? Almost feels like a caliper sticking, though it would have to be both since the car never pulls to a side. This makes me think it is something in the hydraulics that feed both wheels (ABS system, proportioning valve or master cylinder).

Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated.

Scott

Reply to
ST
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I have no idea how Subaru runs their brake system, but on GM pickups there's a funky control box that doesn't apply the rear brakes until the fronts engage. Keeps the back from locking up. Any thing like that in the Subaru system? In your case it would be just the opposite.

Reply to
Kurt Krueger

Did you flush the brake fluid after installing the new pads? Did you lubricate the guide pins? If the guide pins are sticking, it would account for your problem.

Reply to
Edward Hayes

What Ed said.

Make sure you bleed the brakes... it sounds like there might be air in the lines.

Also, take off the caliper and make sure the guide pins (the two bolt-like things w/ rubber boots that the caliper bolts onto) move in and out freely.

Reply to
Dmitriy

I lubricated the slides on the pads themselves, and checked the caliper pins (they were free sliding and lubricated).

I did not bleed the brakes, didn't think I needed to do so since I did not open the hydraulic system and the pedal was firm. However it is easy to do and I was going to try that.

Just seems odd that either both sides have the exact same problem (such as binding) or there is a common hydraulic problem (which could be air).

I will bleed them and post my findings. Please keep any more suggestions coming - I greatly appreciate it for this has me stumped. Brakes were perfectly A-OK prior to changing pads and now this.

Thanks,

Scott

Reply to
ST

I lubricated the slides on the pads themselves, and checked the caliper pins (they were free sliding and lubricated).

I did not bleed the brakes, didn't think I needed to do so since I did not open the hydraulic system and the pedal was firm. However it is easy to do and I was going to try that.

Just seems odd that either both sides have the exact same problem (such as binding) or there is a common hydraulic problem (which could be air).

I will bleed them and post my findings. Please keep any more suggestions coming - I greatly appreciate it for this has me stumped. Brakes were perfectly A-OK prior to changing pads and now this.

Thanks,

Scott

Reply to
ST

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